Gin breast opening mechanism



Nov. 6, 1956 F. E. DEEMS 2,769,208

GIN BREAST OPENING MECHANISM Filed June 12, 1955 A I L :'II2 g-IM |22 I26 :9. L '28 i8- 67 I 67 A c T0 I32 INVENTOR Frank E. Deems ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1956 GIN BREAST OPENING MECHANISM Frank E. Deems, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Continental Gin Company, Birmingham, Ala., a corporation of Delaware Application June 12, 195B,Serial No. 361,109

6 Claims. (Cl'. 19559" This invention relates to fiber handling equipment and in particular relates to asystem and: apparatus for controlling and effecting the movement ofgin breasts into and out of ginning position including power driven devices.

As Well known in the art, cotton gins comprise a frame having gin saws rotatably mounted therein and one or more breasts pivotallv or otherwise movably mounted on or connected to the frame. .When cotton is being ginned the breasts are normally positioned in abutting relationship with the frame and cooperate with stops or supports provided thereon. The breasts contain ribs which are intercalated with the saws when the breasts are in normal operating position.

In the operation of a ginning outfit-it becomes necessary from time to time to move a gin breast out of ginning position. This is done for various reasons. such as to clean out the roll box, or in order to shut down the gin in event of fire, blockage in the flues, etc. Movement of the breast out of ginning position stops the flow of cotton into the flue, condensers, etc. In modern practice feeding apparatus used to feed the ginis' connected to the breast, usually by levers in such a manner that when the breast moves outof ginning position delivery of cotton to the ginwill cease.

The gin breast can be considered to control the operation of the ginning outfit since both feed to and delivery from the gin will stop when the breast moves outwards of the saws.

For many years manually operated mechanisms or similar devices have been relied on to throw gin breasts; These devices include handles adapted to be grasped by the operator enabling the operator to effect the move rnent of thesbreast. However, often when there is an immediate need for throwing the breast acpnsiderable delay ensues before the, operator becomes aware of'the need and before he can then approach the leverage system and throw the breast.

ments indicating operating conditions, can detect the need for a shut down and control movement of the breast instantly from locations removed from the gins themselves.

in order to properly control gin breast movements, my invention includes the provision of power driven means for moving gin breasts and also servo devices or mechanisms for controlling the functioning of such operators.

Also, it has occurred tome, that a means for detecting conditions requiring a shut down as by some sensitive means would be desirable, and that controlling the operation of the breasts by such sensitive means would increase efficiency and give greater control. Such improvements would make it possible to provide ginning equipment wherein dangerous conditions are automatically and instantly detected" without the'dependence upon a human element, and wherein in response to such detection the ginning operation can be immediately and automatically shut down;

It is, therefore, still another object of this invention to provide gin breast operators, servo devices for controlling such operators, and means sensitive to changes in conditions of ginning equipment which are capable of translating a change in condition into a signal, and controlling, said servo mechanisms with said signals.

A large number of gins utilizinga leverage system having levers connected to the stand and to the breast are used. Insu'ch gins levers are placed at opposite ends of the stands and breasts and are interconnected by shafts to. insure parallel operation thereof. Thus, a thrust can be applied to one end of the gin breasts and-yet a straight outward movement of the breast from the stand can be obtained. This eliminates the possibilities of canting and binding of the breast in its movement. It is also an object of this invention to'provide leverage operating means which is adaptable to such a leverage system.

It.is a further object of this invention to provide gin breast leverage operating means which can be conveniently attached to ginning equipment, which is low in cost and which will provide fool proof and trouble free 4 operation.

partying drawings, in which:

It is apparent that, in orderto properly control and I protect ginning equipment, power driven operators should be provided to move the gin breasts. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide power driven means for moving gin breasts into and out of ginning position.

Present ginning outfits comprise a group or battery of gins supplying common flue's. In case of fire, etc., all of the gins must be shut down at once; Itis accordingly a further object of this invention to provide gin breast operators with" which the breasts of a battery of gins can be moved into and out of ginning position simultaneously. p

The condition necessitating moving the breasts out of ginning position might be apparent to a mechanic at the press, for example, but might not be apparent to others. Therefore yet another object'of this invention is to provide means for remotely controlling the movement of gi-nbreasts into and out of ginning position; By such means an individual placed in a position suchthat he can survey a large number of gins or readiinst'ru- Figurell shows an operator constructed in accordance with the invention as connected to a gin breast lever system;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side .elevational view of the operator of Fig. 1 and its connection to the leverage system;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device of Fig. Ztak'en along the lines 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the operator of Fig. 2 taken along line 44 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a gin showing a modified form of breast leverage system operator connected thereto;

Figurev 6 is a view illustrating a control system which may be employed with the operators of Fig. 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing how the system of Fig. 6 .is modified tocontrol the operator of Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters represent similar parts in the several figures.

' As indicated in'the objects of the invention, 1 have devised a gin"br'ea'st throwing system including controls operable at will, and controls operable in' response to changes in conditions in gin equipment, and partic- 3 ularly in response to the starting of fires and the clogging of flues, etc.

My invention includes power driven mechanism, means or operators for throwing the breast, servo mechanisms, or devices, controlling said mechanism, and sensitive elements capable of transmitting signals, which signals control the operation of the servo mechanisms. Referring now particularly to the drawings and describing first the operators or power driven mechanism connected to the gin, reference character designates the frame of the cotton gin, and reference character 12 designates a gin breast. The gin breast is provided with a shaft 14 on which roller 16 is rotatably mounted. Roller 16 has a central groove cooperating with track 18 mounted on flange 20, secured to the frame, and extending alongside the breast. Bracket 22 is connected to frame 10, and link 24 is pivotally connected to bracket 22 by means of pin 26. At its outer end link 24 is pivotally connected to lever 27 as shown at 28. Lever 27 is in turn fixedly connected to shaft 30. Shaft 30 is rotatably mounted in the breast and is fixedly connected to another lever 27 at the other side of the gin as is well known in the art. Worm gear 32 fixedly mounted on shaft 30 has driving engagement with worm 34 formed on the end of shaft 36. Shaft 36 is in turn connected to shaft 38 by means of a detachable coupling or clutch 40. The clutch can be of any suitable design. Shaft 38 is the output shaft of a planetary gear mechanism 42. The planetary gear mechanism is in turn connected to motor 44. The drive shaft of motor 44 connects to the input of the planetary gear system. Motor 44 can be attached to the breast by any suitable flanges or brackets.

The planetary gear system is of a well known type, such as employed for transmissions for automobiles at one time. Therefore, its exact details of construction are not shown. The planetary gear may be housed in a suitable casing not shown, and the casing and motor housing may form a single unit. Such unit can have flanges for connection to the gin breast by bolts, etc. The planetary gear mechanism comprises brake drums 46 and brake bands 48, 50, and 52. Each brake band overlies a drum adapted to cooperate therewith. Brake band 50 is normally in engagement with its cooperating drum, whereas brake bands 52 and 48 are normally out of engagement with their drums. The motor can be a continuously running motor or can be provided with a control system so that it will operate only when it is desired to move the transmission shaft. With the brake band 50 functioning normally as a brake for the operating mechanism, shaft 38 normally does not rotate. The brake bands are labeled in Fig. 2 to indicate which band is operated to cause moving of the breast outwardly of the frame and which is operated to throw the breast inwardly of the frame. The central band 50 is provided with two upstanding flanges 54 and 56. Bolt 58 is connected to flange 56 by welding as at 60 and extends through flange 54. A compression spring 62 is connected on the bolt and held in position thereon by washer 64 and nut 66. It is seen that the spring acts to normally hold the band 50 in engagement with its drum. At its upper end flange 54 has a servo mechanism device, solenoid tyne. mounted thereon in. any convenient manner. An operating shaft 68 is connected to the solenoid armature and lies adjacent flange 56. The solenoid 67 is so constructed that when it is energized operating shaft 68 will impinge against flange 56 and force the latter flange away from flange 54. Thus. when solenoid 66 operates, band 50 disengages from its cooperating brake drum. A bracket 69 attached to band 50 at the bottom thereof connects the band to the gin breast.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 the bands 48 and 52 are each provided with flanges 70 and 72. A bolt 74 is slidably received in openings provided in the flanges and maintained in position by nuts such as 76. A spring 78 is supported on the bolt and normally urges flanges 70 and liquids, etc.

72 to a position in which band 48 lies out of engagement with drum 46. Solenoid 80 is mounted on flange 70 and has a shaft 82 connected to its armature at one end slidably received in flange 70 and connected to the flange 72 by nuts 84 and 86. Bracket 87 connects band 48 to the breast and prevents rotation thereof. Solenoid 80 is so constructed that when it is energized shaft 82 operates to urge flanges 70 and 84 towards each other. The solenoid is of suflicient strength to overcome the spring 78. When the solenoid 80 is operated band 48 grasps drum 46. Thus, output shaft 38 will rotate. The direction of rotation depends on whether flange 48 or 52 grasps its associated drum.

Figure 5 shows another form of power driven mechanism or operator for the breast leverage system. As illustrated link 88 is pivotally connected to bracket 90 and lever 92. Lever 92 has one end connected to shaft 94 which similarly to shaft 30 extends through the breast. A worm wheel 96 is mounted within housing 98 and is fixedly secured to shaft 94. Worm gear 99 is journaled in housing 98 and has driving engagement with wheel 96. Worm gear 99 is connected to the shaft of motor 100. A clutch 101, similar to clutch 40 interconnects the motor shaft and worm gear 99. Motor 100 is a reversible motor and when proper connections are made can be caused to operate in either direction. The motor 100 and housing 98 may be fastened to the gin breast in any convenient manner as by means of base flanges and bolts. The housing and base flanges can be formed to provide ample room for the operation of lever 92. It is apparent that when motor 100 rotates worm gear 99 in one direction the leverage system will be operated to throw the gin breast outwardly and when the motor is driven in the opposite direction the leverage system will be operated to close the gin breast. A brake 50' is connected to the motor shaft. The brake can, as shown, be similar to brake 50 and operated by solenoid 67 similar to solenoid 67.

The gin and breast of Fig. 5 are constructed similar to the gin and breast of Fig. 1. In both instances the breasts are movably mounted by rollers or wheels having flanges which cooperate with a track on which the load of the breast is supported.

Figure 6 illustrates a control system for controlling the operator of either Fig. 1 or Fig. 5. The systern, as shown, illustrates the use of the operator of Fig. 1. A slight modification of the control system of Fig. 6 is necessary for controlling the operator of Fig. 5. Such modification will be described hereinafter. There are illustrated in Fig. 6 two gins 102 and 104 connected to a common flue 106 which discharges into the condenser which is not shown. In the embodiment illustrated sensitive elements or switches operable in response to changes in pressure and temperature are employed. These sensitive elements may consist of any of such devices as are now known including those employing gases, Pressure sensitive switches 110, 112 and 114 are placed in the lint and gin flues 106, 116, and 118 respectively. These switches are wired in parallel. If any one of the switches closes leads 120 and 122 will be shorted so as to make a circuit containing such leads.

Temperature responsive switches 124, 126, and 128 are also located in the flues. These latter switches are responsive to changes in temperature within the flues and will operate to close the circuit including leads 120 and 122 upon a temperature rise within the flues. The temperature and pressure switches within the gin flue need only to be used if a machine such as a lint cleaner is placed between the gins and the lint flue. A source of power or energy is located in the circuit at 128.

Solenoids 80 and 81 are connected in parallel to one side of the power source 128 and solenoid 67 is connected in series with solenoids 80 and 81. Thus, it is seen that solenoids 80 and 81 can be independently energized, but solenoid 67 will become energized when either one of the solenoids 80 and 81 are energized. Solenoids- 80 and 81 are in series with push button switches I32, 134, 136, and 138 respectively. Itis apparent that the solenoids will operate on depressing the proper push button. The push buttons are labeled In, or Out toindicate which way the breast will move when a button is depressed. An employee located adjacent an individual gin can move the breast in or out by depressing the-push buttoniswitch. It is obvious that push button switches 132, 134, 1 36 and 138 can be placed at a location remote from the gin.

Master switches 140 and 142 are also provided. These switches are similar to the individual switches and are labeled In or Out to indicate which switches will swing the breasts outwardly and which will swing them inwardly. The master switches control a series or bank of gins. By depressing master switch 142, for example, all of the breasts of the gins connected in the same bank can be moved outwardly. One side of each of the switches 140 and 142 is connected to one side of the power source 128, as shown at 144. In addition switch 142 has one contact connected to the operating coil of relay 146. Relay 146 is in turn connected to the opposite side of power source 128 as shown at 148. It is apparent that by depressing push button switch 142 the relay coil of relay 146 will become energized causing the connector 150 to bridge lines 152, 154, and 156. Line 156 carries energy from the power supply line 128 and lines 152 and 154 shunt the local switches 134 and 138. Thus, by depressing master switch 142 relay 146 will operate causing operation of solenoids 81.

Switch 140 is utilized to cause closing of the gin breasts and is connected to the power supply at 144. Switch 140, similar to switch 142, has leads 158 and 160 which shunt switches 132 and 136. Solenoids 80 can be operated by depressing the button of master switch 140.

Lead 122 is connected to the power supply as shown at 162. Lead 120 is connected to the opposite side of the power supply through relay 146 as shown at 164. When any one of the pressure or temperature responsive switches 110 to 128 operate to close their contacts a circuit will be completed through the relay coil of relay 146 causing operation of the contact 150. This in turn causes solenoids 81 to operate and swing the breasts outwardly shutting down the ginning operation.

Figure 7 illustrates the modification which must be made in the system of Fig. 6 to operate motor 100. Instead of solenoids 80 and 81 being employed it is only necessary to connect the field circuit of the motor into the circuit of Fig. 6. As illustrated one lead of the motor is connected to solenoid 67' which is positioned in the same location as solenoid 67 in Fig. 6, and which is connected to one side of the power supply, a second lead is connected to switch 132 and the third lead is connected to switch 134. It is seen that when switches 132 or 140 are operated the motor will rotate in one direction, and when switches 134 or 142 are operated the motor will rotate in the opposite direction. Solenoid 67' operates in both instances.

Limit switches 170 and 172 are shown in Fig. 1. Such switches are mounted at the ends of track 18 so as to be engaged and actuated by wheel or roller 16 at its limits of travel. These limit switches are normally closed, and can be placed in the control circuit as illustrated in Fig. 6. It is noted that limit switch 170 is engaged when the breast is in its innermost position with respect to the gin stand. As illustrated in Fig. 6 this breaks the circuit for solenoid 81. Thus, solenoid 81 will be deenergized when the breast is in inner position and spring 78 will force the band 52 outwardly from engagement with its cooperating drum 46. Also it should be noted that limit switch 170 will operate as the breast moves inwardly and break the circuit for solenoid 81 so as to prevent strain on the operator 42 and the leverage system. When the circuit of solenoid 81 is broken, as the breast moves inwardly, the circuit to solenoid- 67 is also broken. This permits band 50 to grasp the" associated drum 46 and brake the movement of the breast through the leverage system. When limit switch is opened limit switch 172 is closed. Limit switch 172 is opened as the breast reaches its extreme outward movement. switches close as soon as the roller 16 moves away from its extreme limits of travel. With the breast in its innermost position, as illustrated in the drawings, the circuit through solenoid 81 is broken by the limit switch and cannot be made by depressing switches 134, 138, or 142. The only circuit which can be made is through solenoids 80. Thus, an individual cannot strain the apparatus by mistakingly depressing buttons 134 or 142 when he intends to depress button 132 or 140.

Although it has been stated that motor 44 can be a continuously running motor it is apparent that motor 44 can be wired in the control circuit illustrated, either directly or through contactors having operating coils wired therein so as to operate only when one of the switches is depressed or when one of the pressure or temperature sensitive devices operates.

The use of limit switches with the modification illustrated in Fig. 5 is also apparent and such switches can be wired into the circuit in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 6.

In the event of failure of the control system to operate, or a power failure, clutches 40 and 101 can be disengaged so as to permit manual operation of the breast leverage system in the normal manner.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have devised powered mechanisms for moving gin breasts. Such mechanisms are readily adapted to present gin systems. Furthermore, the mechanisms are simple in nature and provide a means of obtaining instantaneous movement of the breasts. With my invention it is possible to operate gin breasts from remote locations, as well as immediately adjacent the gins. Also I have devised apparatus with which the moving of the gin breasts can be accomplished automatically.

While I have shown and described the preferred modifications of my invention, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cotton gin comprising a breast member and a frame member, said breast member being movable with respect to said frame member, a leverage system connecting said breast and said frame member and operable to move said breast with respect to said frame member, a motor in driving engagement with said leverage system for operation thereof including a planetary gear mechanism for selecting the direction of movement of said leverage system when driven by said motor.

2. In a cotton gin, a frame, a breast movably mounted on said frame for movement between open and closed positions, a leverage system interconnecting said breast and said frame and operable to move said breast with respect to said frame between said open and said closed positions comprising a first lever pivotally connected to said breast, a second lever pivotally connected to said frame, said levers being pivotally connected to each other, means for pivotally operating said levers with respect to said breast and said frame for effecting opening and 010s ing movements of said breast comprising a motor powered mechanism mounted on said breast, means drivingly con necting said mechanism to said leverage system, said mechanism including means for operating said leverage system to effect both opening and closing movements of said breast.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the last named means comprises a reversible electric motor.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the last named means comprises a planetary gear mechanism.

The limit 5. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said mechanism includes a clutch normally maintaining said mechanism in engagement with said leverage system, said clutch being operable to disengage said mechanism from said system.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said mechanism includes a brake normally preventing operation of said mechanism and said system, and means for simu1taneously actuating said brake and said mechanism for operation of said system by said mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Baker Nov. 29, Hooton Sept. 26, McClintock Aug. 17, Deems Apr. 18, Myers et a1. Dec. 10, Ford Oct. 20, 

